Chuck's game
Chapter 1
Jenny quietly opened the door and slide into the room. It was a clear, well lighted placed, and for some reason, it stank of efficiency and anonymity. Of practicality. Lodged in what appears to be an abandoned military training camp, this place looked like a mess hall with a fresh coat of paint. Which of course, it was.
Upon entering, she quickly scanned the room. Her father had taught her well and she could read a room easily, even one as unusual as this one.
It was a strange gathering of individuals, around fifteen teenagers, all of them between 16 to 20 years old. Just like Jenny, they were all dressed in gray sweats and t-shirts. But, other than their youth and forced wardrobe choices, this was a heterogeneous group. A strange mix of races, accents and classes, that, by Jenny's estimations, had been collected from all across the country. Some of them looked like foreigners, although it was hard to tell.
She stood in the corner, trying to blend with the room. Most of the kids there were in small groups, talking quietly, stealing furtive gazes to each other. Obviously, none of them knew entirely why they were there.
A girl of about 16 years old was sitting against a wall. She was tall and lanky, with a beautiful tanned skin and huge, dark eyes. Her long, silky but somewhat skinny legs were collected under her.
Upon noticing her, the girl offered Jenny a hesitant smile, which she returned. Crossing the room, she went to the tall girl and sit next to her.
They sit in silence for a few minutes, until the girl turned to face Jenny, eyes full of curiosity.
- "So, what's your thing"- she asked.
"My thing?"-Jenny answered, doubtfully.
-"Yeah, you know, everybody here is kind of a criminal. I was among the first to came here, over a week ago, and the only thing that we know for sure is that we all chose to come here instead of facing time. You see Kenny over there?- She asked, pointing to a small boy sitting in the corner- "He claims that he can steal any car in the planet" "And Julio over there"- She said, pointing another boy- "His father was a locksmith, and they worked together in the family business until little Julio decided to use daddy's training to commit a little burglary. So, what's your thing"
Jenny was shy by nature, and if she had learned anything from his father, was to deflect when necessary. So, she asked instead- "And what's yours?"
-"Well"- she answered, shifting in the bench- "I'm..."
-"Silence"- a deep, commanding voice silenced all conversation in the room. At that point, Jenny noticed that the doors were open and a familiar figure entered the Hall.
He was a tall, black man dressed in a crisp gray suit. He slowly walked tot the front of the hall, and stood, hands between his back.
-"Okay, some of you know me, some of you don't"- He said in a slow, methodical and slightly menacing way- "I'm the Director and you are all here because you were chosen for two reasons. First, every one of you have some skill that we considered useful. Among you we have thieves, killers, con-artists, hackers... prostitutes"- He grumbled. The girl next to Jenny shifted awkwardly in her seat.- "You will learn from each other, train each other, until I consider that you are ready. And then I'll send you to serve this country."
-"But that's not all that you have in common. You all have something to lose more important than yourselves. So, I gave you a choice: work with me for a few years and you'll be free or someone close to you suffer. So, there will be no disobedience here, no refusing of any kind to my command. And no escaping"
He walked the room until he stand next to Sarah
-"From now on, you are dead to the outside world. There will be no contact with anyone outside of this hall unless I said so. You have also been provided with new identities. From now on, THOSE will be your names. Whoever you were before is dead. Gone"
He looked at Jenny straight in the eyes
-"You. What's your name"
"I'm Sarah Walker" she answered without hesitation, her chin raised as in a challenge
"Good girl. And you?- he asked to the girl sitting next to Sarah
"My name is Zondra"- she answered in a small voice.
Author's note:
Here's the thing: I love Chuck. And I love fanfiction.
But, right now, Chuck the show is dead (I won't comment on the finale), and the truth is that the fanfiction community is only going to survive if the people that forms it keep it alive.
So, this is my contribution to the cause. While my writing has certainly rusted in the last year too much write a new chapter of the Pond without a little practice (although, I'm working on it), I'd like to try something different.
The thing is, my schedule doesn't give me much time to write anymore, so this is an experiment of sorts. Shorter chapters, frequent updates (or at least I'll try), usually only one or two scenes, and no beta, which trust me, I really missed, but takes some time that I prefer to invest in writing.
About this story, yes, of course Chuck will be here. And of course, this is a Charah story, starting by next chapter. One thing should be clear: this is a AU slightly based on Sarah's background as was provided by Nervert in one of my favorite stories, Chuck versus the Pacific Northwest.
As usual, all constructive criticism and advice is welcome.